The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Before we know, the temperature will be dropping. Before it gets too cold, take advantage of the current temperatures, and prepare your home or apartment for the winter. Here are some ideas to get you started. 1. Check seals around doors and windows:...

I cannot let September slip by without putting information out about this month being National Sewing Month. The past six months have sparked a surge of more people sewing. Motivations of why people sew vary from stress reliever to a way to save...

FRIDAY FOOD PRESERVATION 101 Finding your freezer stuffed and no room to put your fresh seasonal produce to enjoy this winter? Canning may be your answer. Canning does require some specific steps to ensure a safe, shelf-stable product. Montana State...

If you love working with wool fabric, yarn or fiber, the Make It With Wool (MIWW) Contest needs you! If you knit, crochet, spin, weave, sew or quilt, consider entering the MIWW contest this fall. The MIWW contest promotes the beauty and versatility...

Quick Pickles Maybe canning cucumbers for pickles is not for you but you still have those fresh cucumbers? An easy alternative is to make quick pickles in the refrigerator. Great tasting, very easy and ready in a few hours! Try this recipe for a...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate using alcohol-based hand sanitizer which contains at least 60% alcohol. Think all hand sanitizer is the same? If it is labelled alcohol hand sanitizer, it should all be safe to use,...

More fraud and scam terms to discuss this week… Smishing is short for “SMS phishing”. The scammer sends a text message or SMS (Short Message Service) with a phone number or link claiming to be connected to your bank or another company. They...

Continuing the topic of fraud and scams from last week’s article, it may help to know some terminology and understanding of how scammers operate to get your personal information. This week’s term is phishing. Phishing Scammer sends a fake email,...

Reports of fraud and scams have, unfortunately, become a normal part of our lives. It can happen to anyone. As the fastest growing segment of the population in the United States, older adults are especially targeted and uniquely vulnerable to...

The past few weeks I have covered canning and freezing foods. An additional method of preserving food is dehydration. Dehydration of food is one of the oldest and simplest methods of food preservation. During the dehydration process, moisture is...

Maybe canning is not for you, but do you have extra produce you want to preserve and have available for later? Freezing is a convenient option for preserving food while maintaining a large portion of its nutritional value and flavor. Freezing will...

The first picking of my rhubarb is about to happen. I cannot wait to take that first bite of sour, yet refreshing, yumminess. While my current dilemma of deciding what to bake first is scrambling my head, I also know I will soon be saying “What am...

With fewer visits to the grocery store during this time, you may be having issues keeping fresh foods from spoiling. Here are some tips for keeping fresh foods longer, preventing them going to waste. *Stock up on meat and freeze by double wrapping...

A series of 30-minute Estate and Legacy Planning webinars, called Tuesday Tips, is available to view and listen to from the convenience of your home every Tuesday, through May 26, from 11-11:30 am. These sessions also include an additional 25-30 minu...

This article is not meant to bring more doom and gloom to the current situation we all are managing. However, given what we are experiencing and seeing around the world, nation and state, some may have had these thoughts. The “what if” thoughts...

Questions and concerns regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) being transmitted through food or food packaging have been raised. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and United States Department of...

There is an abundance of information coming at us at a rapid rate surrounding Coronavirus. This may bring many different emotions or feelings. You may also find these emotions or feelings change just as rapidly as the information you are receiving....

Does this sound familiar—your spouse asking you where you put that IMPORTANT receipt which they need in order to get the taxes done? Tax season can be stressful finding the necessary records from a year ago. Have you sworn to yourself every year...

If you are someone who checks clothing laundering labels, have you noticed how many different symbols there are? And, if there is no wording with the symbols do you understand what is means? Many reading this are likely saying they never check the...

Every February is American Heart Month, raising awareness about preventing heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Approximately 90 percent of middle-aged people and more than 74...

Free Annual Credit Reports There is one official site to get a free annual credit report. It is AnnualCreditReport.com and they can also be reached at (877)322-8228. It is Federal law that you are able to get a free credit report every twelve months...

Did the holiday season treat you well with many delicious treats that have you feeling like you overindulged? Or, feeling a bit sedentary and wanting to get some activity into your day? Physical activity during the winter months is challenging. It...

With the new year upon us, resolutions may be on your mind. Have you found how easy they are to make them but not as easy to keep? People who make new year’s resolutions are 10 times more likely to accomplish the changes than those who do not...

This time of year can bring additional stress of high expectations, overcommitments, a lot to get done, etc. Perhaps misunderstandings and miscommunication add to the craziness. Under these circumstances, strong communication is key to maintaining...

PASSWORDS Using strong passwords, not using the same password for everything and changing passwords often are some of the most important ways to keep your online accounts from being hacked. Most of these points you have heard before but check them...